Breathing mask apparatus



June 28, 1960 H. w. SEELER' 2,

' BREATHING MASK APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Hf/V/E W 5 5x0? June 28, 1960 w, s E- 2,942,602

BREATHING MASK APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. f/[Nfiy W55 LEA BYWW Maw 5'" Unite States atent BREATHING MASK APPARATUS Henry W. Seeler, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Dec. 14, 1955, Ser. No. 553,164

8 Claims. (Cl. 128--l46) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a breathing mask and, more particularly, to an adjustable, lightweight breathing mask of the oral-nasal type for use in high altitude flight.

In prior breathing masks of the oral-nasal type, the mask has been formed of resilient material such as rubber in order to fit the face of the wearer. However, such a mask must be bulky and heavy in order to withstand the force of the oxygen pressure Within the mask. The bulky and heavy mask makes it difiicult to adjust for a comfortable seat on the face, especially for long periods of wear. In order to have a satisfactory seal between the mask and the face of the wearer at high altitude where pressure breathing is required, it is necessary for the bulky and heavy mask to be adjusted with a high tension force at ground level. This, of course, makes the prior mask uncomfortable when it is worn for long periods.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages by making the mask lightweight and yet capable of withstanding the force of the oxygen pressure within the interior of the mask. This is accomplished by disposing a thin wall face fitting mask of resilient material within a lightweight, thin, hard shell whereby the shell absorbs the force of the oxygen pressure within the interior of the mask.

The mask of the present invention has an adjustable harness that permits a light seat on the face at low altitude where the ambient pressure is greater than the pressure within the mask and a tighter fit on the face of the wearer when pressure breathing is required at high altitude. This is achieved by adjusting the harness at high altitude to increase the tension on the mask. Thus, the mask of the present invention may be worn for long periods Without becoming uncomfortable.

An object'of the present invention is to provide a lightweight breathing mask that is capable of sustaining high pressures within the mask.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable harness for mounting a breathing mask as desired.

Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to the combination of a breathing mask with a helmet. A harness, which is secured to the mask, is releasably connected to the helmet by suitable locking means whereby the mask is secured against the face of the wearer. Means are provided to change the securing position of the harness to the mask and other means are employed to change the angle at which the harness is secured to the mask.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention fitted on the face of a wearer;

. releasable locking mechanism;

ice

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mask of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the vertical adjusting a paratu's of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of one embodiment of a Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the locking mechanism of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of another form of releasable locking mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the harness adjusting apparatus.

Referring to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1, there is shown a mask 10 fitted against the face of the wearer. The mask 10 is secured to a helmet 11 by a pair of harness straps 12 (one of which is shown). The harness straps 12 are secured to the mask 10 througha support member 14. It will be understood that the harness straps 12 may be provided with buckles to adjust the length of the straps, if desired. The harness strap, which is shown in Fig. l, is connected to the helmet by a releasable locking mechanism 15. The other harness strap (not shown) is connected to the helmet by any suitable well-known connecting means.

The mask 10 comprises an outer protective shell 16 and a face fitting member 17. The shell 16 is preferably made of baked fiberglass but any lightweight and hard material may be employed. In order to insure that the face fitting member 17 seats firmly against the face, the member is preferably made of rubber but any suitable resilient material may be used. The member 17 is fastened to the shell 16 by suitable leak-proof connecting means (not shown). One type of leak-proof fastening means would be rubber protrusions in the mold of the member 17 inserted in openings in the shell 16.

Oxygen is supplied to the interior of the mask from a suitable source (not shown) through a tube 18, which is connected to a combined inhalation-exhalation valve 19. The details of the valve 19, which is a two-way pressure compensated type, are described in my copending application, Serial No. 549,892, filed November 29, I

1955, now Patent No. 2,820,469. The valve 19 is mounted in the lower portion of the member 17 (see Fig. 2). The exhaust or exhalation air escapes from the interior of the mask through the ports 20 of the valve 19 and passes between a wall 21, which supports the valve in the member 17, and the exterior wall of the tube 18. Thus, it will be observed that the valve is so located that no cold ambient air contacts the valve system; furthermore, the valve is heated by the exhalation air from the interior of the member 17.

A microphone 22 is mounted within the interior of the member 17 by a flexible and resilient tube 23. This tube is made flexible and resilient so that the position of the microphone 22 may be varied as desired by the wearer. An electrical lead conduit 24, which supplies the power to the microphone 22, is disposed between the shell 16 and the member 17 in the lower portion thereof.

- The support member 14 is mounted on the shell 16 of the mask 10 by a rod or guide member 25 having its ends mounted in brackets 26 and 27 secured to the shell 16. The rod 25 has protrusions 28 on one side thereof and protrusions 29 on the opposite side. The rod 25 passes through a passage 30 in the support member, which has a second'passage 31 that is perpendicular to the passage 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. A pair of elements 32 and 33 are disposed within the passage 31 for cooperating with the rod 25 to hold the support member 14 thereon. The element 32 has an opening 34 in one end thereof and the element 33 has an opening 35 in one end "thereof. The end"'36 of'the element 33 in which the opening 35 is located is a reduced portion, which fits within the hollow interior of the element 32. Resilient means such as a spring 37 is disposed within the hollow 7 interior of "theelement' 32 andheld'ther'ein by the'reduced end 36 of .the element 33. When the reducediportion 36 ofthe element 33 "is inserted within thehollow interior of the element 32 and the spring 37 is thereby geompressed,"the"openings 34 and 35 are alignedgand'the rod 25; passes therethrough The protrusions 2 8 jar e" wider than theiprotrnsions"29 so that the spacejbetweengthe protrusions 28 is .less .than theffdistancebetween 'mQ P trusions- 29; Accordingly, it will be seen that this" per- Thus, the mask is quickly released ,fr'ojmthe' face of the wearer when desired by simultaneously pushing on the portions 514and 52 of the elementsf47 and 48. The housing 46 has a pair of press buttons '53'th'at are: connected to two of the three press buttons 44 ofthe bracket'43. Thus, the releasable locking mechanism is attached to .mits the protrusions 2919 fit oventheedgesiof. the lopen 'ing" 34. off the element '32, whi'le the? protrusions 28 abut againstj'the edges of'thejojpening35 of. 'the'reducedend 36 of'the element33 to lock the support member-14b the rod 25. To adjust the support member114 either upward or "downward, .it is'only necessary to simultaneously pushinwardly on the :eilements32 and 33. This overcomes theiforce of the jspring" 37'.and the elements and33 movojinwardly with respect .to eachother to fa1lowtheprotrusions'28 and 29 on i therod' 25 to pass through the'openings34 and 3521s the member l'4iis moved. Since the harness straps 12 are secured to the support member14', it is readily .seenthat movementof themember "14 on the rod 25 changes the angle of connection of' the harness. straps 12; to "the ma'sk'10 and, accordingly, the forceexerted thereon.

Each of the straps 12 is connected to a pin 38, which passes through Is'l'ots'f39 formed in each of apair of parallel walls 40 or the member 14. The parallel walls result: from forming a cutaway po'rtion.41 on one side of the support member 14. A lever 42is disposed within ithe cut'awa'y portion 41 and is rotatably mounted on the pin38. Thelever 42 is of eccentric cross section so that its movement fiom the phantom line position of'Fig. 8

to the solid line, position in-Fig. 8 causes the pin 3% to move alonglthe slots 39. "For'ithe most comfortable fit of the mask. on the face ofthe wearen'the slots 39 are disposed on the same angleas the attachment of the straps 12 to the mask 'thus, this permits the same fit against 'the face when the. force exerted on the mask 10 is increased. as the pin 38 moves along the. slots 39.

"The movement of the pin 38 fromtheuppermost edges of-theslots 39 to-the-lowermost edges. increasesthe force exerted on themaskflo by the-harness straps 12. Thus, movement of the .lever 42 produces-a .tighter fit of'the mask. against the face of the wearer. .This is desired, of course, whenthe oxygen pressure within the interior of themember 17 .is greaterthanthe ambient pressure since the masktends to leak at this time Thus, thelever 42 inits phantom linepositionin. Fig. 8 atj'ground level and ..low.altitude since-iastight fit is notrequired at this time. :However; when high altitudes are reached where pressure breathing is required, thelever 42 isrnoved to the solid lineposition of Fig- 8 wherein the mask fits tightly against the face of the wearer to prevent leakage from the interior of the member 17. y

A bracket 43 is secured to each side of the helmet 11 and has three press buttons44 thereon. The harness strap. (not shown) has a member with two press buttons, which aresecuredzto either the two uppermost press :bnttons or two lowermost press buttons on the. bracket not.sho wn) to .securethe harness strap to the-helmet 11. lt will beiunderstood that this bracket is exactly the same was .the bracket;43 The harness strap 12, which.is coneither the uppermostrtwo'press buttons .44 orv the lowermost two buttons 44; "it will be'understood that since OHIY'IIII'EB'bIIttOHS 44 are'on thebracket 'thatfthe middle press button 44 on the bracket 43 is always engaged by one of the press buttons 53 of the releasable locking mechanism 15. -'I-o'someextent; the augleof thehamess'strap 12 with-respect to .the1m'ask 10. and, accordingly, the force exerted to secure the maskJU. against the face of the wearer depends on which two pressbuttons -441are engaged by the press buttons-L53. .fiowevenatheaexact angleofcontact ofth'e harness strap 12 with respecttto the mask 10 is 'determined'by moVing thetposition or the support member 14-o'n..the rod 25.

If desiredrthe releasablexl'ocking mechanism 54'of Fig. 7: may be substituted for the relea sable" locking mechanism IS-of Figs. 5' and 6 though the locking mechanisrn 15 is .the preferredaembodiment. The; locking mechanism 54 includesa housing- 55 having a 'pair'o f press buttons connectedito twoof the'threep'ressbutton's 44 on the bracket 43. One end of the harness lstrap '12 is secured to a member 56' having a :reces'sq 57 therein. A pair of elements 58 and 59 is disposed within fthe member 56 and has portions60 and-61'. respectivel hthat pass into openings 62 in'the housing 55. The portions 60 and 61 engage the'walls of the housing adjacent the openings62 when extended to their'outermostposition by resilient means such as afspring 63 disposed within the recess 57 of the member 56. v The elements 58i'and59 have other portions 64 and 65, respectively; extending outwardly of the member 56. The'simultaneous actuation of the portions 64 and 65 overcomes the force of the spring 63 and permits the portions 60 and 61 to :be disengaged from contact with the walls of the housingi55 to release the member from the housing 55 as-the portions-60 and 61 are removed through the openings 62.

It will be observed'from the'foregoing description that "the mask 10 is adjustable in a plurality of ways. The

angle of connection of the harness strap 12 to themask 10 is determined by movement'of the-support member 14 along the rod 25; this movement changes the force exerted by the strap on the mask 10 to-some degree. Similarly, the angle ofthe harness strap with respectto the mask 10 is varied in accordance with the' location of the releasable locking mechanism 15 on the press buttons 44 of the bracket 43. The most important feature of 'adjustability of th'e mask-10 is that'thelfor'ce maybe nected-to the helmetll by the-locking means 15, is atjt ached to amember 45 at one; end thereof. The member .iisinserteclwithin a housing 46 of the locking mechanjs'm 15. The..member 45- is releasably locked in-the 'increased a substantial amount by rotating the lever 42 from the phantom line position; of Fig. 8 to the solid line'position of Fig.8. This moves the pin 38alo'ng the slots 39 and substantially increases the forceexertedby 'the' strap 12-on them'ask 10. This adjustable feature is employed only when the wearer reaches high altitudes in which the. pressure .in: theeinterior of .theLmasIQ 10 is greater than the ambient pressure. While thisisuncomfortable in .comparison with .the fit ofthe maskontthe face of the wearer atloweraltitudes; the uncornfortable -fit.isneeded'only at high altitude. and once the-wearer descends the lever is: again rotated to reduce the force acting. onthefl mask 10 to"again.provide a comfortable fit.

The face fitting members 17 emay. be. very: thin; .since the hard shell 16 of the mask 10 withstands @theforceof the oxygen pressure within the interior of the member 17. By making the shell 16 of lightweight material, the entire weight of the mask is reduced substantially. Sim ilarly, the large reduction in the size of the face fitting member enables it to be more resilient and fit the face of the wearer better. It will be understood that the shell 16 could have a pair of openings, if desired, to permit the wearer to grasp his nose through the face fitting member 17 to relieve the pressure created in his ears during a sudden descent.

The present invention has the advantage of not being bulky and is readily adaptable for fitting on the face of the wearer. Another advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the uncomfortableness from long periods of wearing the mask.

For purposes of exemplification, particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. It will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a breathing mask, a harness releasably secured to said mask and adaptable for releasable connection to a helmet, locking means adapted for releasable connection between said harness and the helmet to secure said mask against the face of the wearer, and means incorporated on said mask to vary the securing position of said harness to said mask between upper, intermediate and lower positions.

2. A breathing mask including an outer protective shell, a face fitting resilient member mounted within said shell, harness means attached to said shell to secure said resilient member against the face of the wearer, means to supply oxygen to the interior of the resilient member and remove exhaust air from the interior of the resilient member and adjustably mounted support and cam actuated means to respectively change the angle of connection between one end of said harness means and said mask and adjust the force thereof when the pressure within the interior of the member exceeds the ambient pressure.

3. In combination, a breathing mask including an outer protective shell, a face fitting member within said shell, harness means adapted to connect a shell to said helmet to secure said face fitting member against the face of the wearer, means to change the angle of and increase the force of the connecting means to urge the member against the face of the wearer when the pressure within the interior of the member exceeds the ambient pressure comprising a main support rod rigidly positioned on said shell, a support member adjustably positioned on said rod between the upward and a lower position and attached to said harness means, and a lever of eccentric cross section rotatably mounted within said support member movable between a raised and a lowered position to respectively decrease or increase the pressure of said member against the face of the wearer, and means to supply oxygen to the interior of the face fitting member and to remove exhaust air from the interior of the face fitting member.

4. Harness support apparatus in combination with a breathing mask including a support member mounted on said mask, a pair of harness straps attached to opposite sides of said support member to secure said mask against the face of the wearer, and means cooperating with said support member to vary the securing force of said straps, said support member being adjustably mounted on said mask and incorporating a pair of parallel walls having a pair of aligned, relatively elongated slots, pin means afiixed to one of said pair of harness straps and slidably engaged in the slots, and an eccentrically mounted adjustment lever rotatably mounted on said pin means between an uppermost position and a lowermost position.

5. Harness support apparatus in combination with a breathing mask including a support member mounted on forming two parallel walls, each of said walls having a slot therein, a pin extending through said slot, a harness strap attached to said pin on each side of said support member to urge the mask against the face of the wearer, and means disposed within the cutaway portion to move the pin along the slot to vary the urging force of the harness strap on the mask.

6. In combination, a breathing mask, resiliently disposed means attached to the breathing mask to secure the mask against the face of the wearer, means to supply oxygen to the interior of the mask and remove exhaust air from the interior of the mask, and means to change the force of the attaching means when the pressure within the interior of the mask exceeds the ambient pressure including a main support bracket having slidably positioned, relatively elongated support means releasably attached to said resiliently disposed means and movable between a first position corresponding to an increased ambient pressure and a second position corresponding to a reduced ambient pressure.

7. Harness support apparatus in combination with a breathing mask including a support member mounted on said mask, a pair of harness straps attached to opposite sides of said support member to secure said mask against the face of the wearer, means adjustably mounting said support member on said mask, said means including a rod member having protrusions on opposite sides thereof, an element having an opening at one end thereof, a second elemet having an opening at one end thereof, one of said elements having a hollow interior in which the other of said elements is inserted whereby said openings in said elements are aligned with each other, said rod member passing through said aligned openings, the protrusions on said rod member cooperating with said elements to retain said rod member in one position and resilient means disposed within the interior of said one element to aid said elements in retaining said rod member in said one position, said elements being movable with respect to each other to permit adjustment of said rod member to another position.

8. Harness support apparatus in combination with a breathing mask including a support member mounted on said mask, a pair of harness straps attached to opposite sides of said support member to secure said mask against the face of the wearer, means adjustably mounting said support member on said mask, said means including a first element having an end portion with a transverse opening extending therethrough, a second element having an end portion with a transverse opening extending therethrough, the end portion of the first element being of greater diameter than the end portion of the second element, said first element having a hollow interior which telescopingly receives the end portion of the second element so that said transverse openings in said elements are aligned with each other, a rod member having two sets of more than two protrusions, the two sets disposed on opposite sides of said rod member, said rod member passing through said aligned transverse openings, the protrusrons of one set being wider than the protrusions of the other set to provide spaces between the protrusions of saidone set that are less than the distance between the protruslons of said other set, whereby two of the one set of protrusions engage the outer surface of the second element end portion while two of the other set of protrusions engage the outer surface of the first element end portion in order to retain said rod member in one posi tion, and resilient means disposed within the hollow interior of said first element to aid said first and second elements in retaining said rod member in said one position, said elements being movable with respect to each other to permit adjustment of said rod member to another position.

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